"24" star Kiefer Sutherland pleaded no contest on Tuesday to a misdemeanor drunk driving charge in connection with his late September arrest, Daily News reports.

The Emmy-winning actor won’t be enjoying his winter holidays since he was ordered to serve 18 days starting December 21 for violating his 2004 DUI conviction. He also agreed to do another 30 days for driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08% by July next year. House arrest with electronic monitoring was out of discussion.

"He has to serve the time ... [There's] no credit for overcrowding," Frank Mateljan, spokesman for Los Angeles city prosecutor Rocky Delgadillo, said referring to the fact that other celebrities have been granted early releases, including Nicole Richie not so long ago.

Sutherland, who wasn’t present at the hearing, entered his plea agreement through his lawyer Blair Berk.

"I'm very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers on `24' and at 20th Century Fox," Sutherland said in a statement.

"I appreciate the support and concern that has been extended to me these last weeks both personally and professionally," he added.

The 40-year-old actor who plays Jack Bauer on FOX’ TV series will also have to complete an 18-month alcohol-education program and get therapy. According to court documents, Sutherland will be on probation for five years to come, facing fines and driving suspensions.

In a statement released by FOX, the network expressed its support for Sutherland based on their lengthy collaboration and said the production of "24" won’t suffer any changes.

"Kiefer made clear to us at the time of his arrest that his first concern was the welfare of those he worked with and that he intended to do whatever was necessary to prevent shutting down the show because of his situation," the statement said.

"He told us that even if he had to sacrifice more time in custody in order to protect the show and the jobs of those who work with him, he would do so. From what occurred today, it is evident he is a man of his word," it said.

Sutherland was arrested for DUI on September 25 after failing a field sobriety test when police stopped him for making an illegal U-turn in West Los Angeles. He was booked for misdemeanor driving under the influence and released on a $25,000 bail.

The actor was twice convicted for alcohol-related reckless driving, in 1989 and in 1993 and in November 2004, he pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and was sentenced to 60 months of probation and 50 hours of community service and ordered to attend an alcohol treatment program.